Casa Tua’s debut onto the residential development scene is going quite well. Their upcoming tower, Ora by Casa Tua has breezed through the Miami Urban Development Review Board unopposed. With a vote of 6-0, the board has unanimously voted to approve the 76-story tower that is a partnership between Casa Tua and Fortune International Development at 1210 Brickell Avenue.
It should be noted that the developer did not seek any waivers on the design. Waivers push the envelope of which types of construction are allowed in which parts of the city, in effort for the city to grow at a managed pace without putting too much wear and tear on our infrastructure. Things such as height waivers and parking waivers are common in new developments, but were not sought for Ora.
Not seeking waivers does not, however, mean that the project does not push the envelope with a uniquely indulgent set of offerings for its buyers. The project is home to 540 residences from studios up to four-bedroom options, all of which have the availability of short-term rentals. There will be four restaurant concepts onsite for the enjoyment of residents, which were revealed in March when the pre-sales began.
The tower, which was designed by Arquitectonica will rise 930 feet, just shy of the 984-foot benchmark that would declare it a supertall structure. It will replace the existing 7-story parking garage on the corner of South Miami Avenue/SW 13th Street (Coral Way). Since there will be ingress/egress on Brickell Avenue, Ora by Casa Tua will have the coveted address of 1210 Brickell Avenue. The new parking podium will deliver 955 spots for vehicles and almost 2,000 spots for bicycles.
With a curved structure reminiscent of a wave, the exterior Ora emulates the Carlos Ott-designed Echo Brickell at 1451 Brickell Avenue although this is the only similarity between the two projects. Echo is more of a boutique project with fewer residences and more strict rental policies. Ora is envisioned as a luxurious home that could also serve as corporate housing for the nearby office towers, and investors would have the option to utilize their apartments for vacation when they wish. The color schemes and interiors (designed by M2 Atelier at Ora) will also be vastly different.
Inside Ora, the total square footage is set to be roughly 1.3 million square feet on the site, which is just over 1-acre. There will be almost 54,000 square feet of office space and nearly 25,000 square feet of commercial space. Among the eateries will be a 24-hour gourmet market, a wine bar, rooftop lounge and an intimate restaurant.
Rendering of Ora by Casa Tua Brickell Patio
Rendering of Ora by Casa Tua Brickell Restaurant Patio
The next step for the super tower is to announce the general contractor who is chosen to undertake the construction and to file for a demolition permit of the existing parking garage. The office building at 1200 Brickell Avenue, which houses Dirty French Steakhouse, will not be affected.
Sales began in late March with residences being spoken for at a rapid pace. Prices range from $800,000 for studios up to $2.5 million for 4-bedroom options. Floor plans have yet to be shared publicly as there are many different layouts, but are available in a private presentation with specific areas of the building in mind.
If you are interested in a private presentation on Ora by Casa Tua with specific Tier 1 pricing, please contact Michael Light, Broker and Executive Director of Luxury Sales at Douglas Elliman. You may reach Michael directly at (786) 566-1700 or via email at michael@mblayst.com.
